The Heiress's Game

After having her personal assistant, Xiao Lin, see the people from Wanyu Culture off, Gu Mingyue leaned back on the sofa, picked up the remote, and turned the air conditioner down two degrees.

She felt a tightness in her chest. The new producer, surnamed Zhao, was sitting opposite her with his assistant and planning director, their attitude as attentive as if they were worshipping a Bodhisattva.

They went on and on about how "Ms. Gu, you are the only hope for our program" and that "your status as the number one socialite in Dahai City is the best content in itself."

"We can tailor every step to your needs," and they even brought the initial draft of the script.

A thick stack of papers, with a gold-embossed title on the cover: "Shining Life Special Guest Project Proposal - Exclusive to Ms. Gu Mingyue".

She flipped through two pages and then put it down.

Calling it a proposal is an understatement; it's more like a script written for her—from the background music to every single word she's supposed to say.

Everything was arranged meticulously; all that was left was to breathe for her.

"We'll definitely film you in a very high-class way," Producer Zhao continued, "and we can guarantee it—"

"No need for guarantees," Gu Mingyue pushed the proposal back.

"The premiere of 'Shining Life' had a rating of 0.8. You asked me to save the day, which is like asking me to endorse you."

When did I, Gu Mingyue, fall so low as to endorse a plagiarized variety show? The celebrities you invited aren't even worthy of seeing me.

"You want me to be their special guest? No need to discuss it anymore."

She stood up and instructed her personal assistant to see the guest out.

Producer Zhao's face turned bright red. He moved his lips as if to say, "We didn't plagiarize," but in the end, he didn't dare to refute it and slunk away.

Gu Mingyue felt both pleased and annoyed as she watched him bend down to pick up the proposal she had knocked over.

What's satisfying is that she maintained her dignity as a socialite; what's unsatisfying is that she's actually stooped to being tested by a variety show like this.

If her name were still as dazzling as before, a show with a premiere rating of 0.8 wouldn't even have the courage to send her an invitation.

"Miss Gu," Xiao Lin said, her voice tinged with caution.

"Miss Gu Yunjin has arrived; she's at the door."

Gu Mingyue's expression darkened visibly.

"Gu Yunjin? What's she doing here?"

"They brought flowers and gifts, saying they came to...see you."

Gu Mingyue was silent for two seconds, then took a deep breath, raised her hand to tidy her hair, pulled the edge of her shawl, and adjusted her sitting posture to the most elegant angle.

She stood up from the sofa, walked to the full-length mirror in the entryway, adjusted her expression in front of the mirror as if someone had turned a dimmer switch, and her elongated face transformed into a dignified and gentle smile within seconds.

She's studied this essential course for socialites for thirty years and has long since mastered it.

When she looked up again, her face had changed to a gentle smile.

"Please let her in."

When Gu Yunjin entered the living room, she was holding a bouquet of exquisitely arranged white tulips, while Li Chunjing next to her was carrying several gift boxes of high-end cosmetics.

Gu Yunjin wore a light camel-colored knitted cardigan today, with her hair loosely tied back. She looked gentle, harmless, and like a spring breeze.

The two sisters looked at each other and smiled, their smiles tacit and warm, like a duet they had rehearsed countless times.

"Sister, you've lost weight recently," Gu Yunjin handed the flowers to Xiaolin and sat down on the sofa next to Gu Mingyue. Her concern was so sincere that no one could find any flaws in it.

"Did you not eat properly again?"

"No, it's just that I've been working out more lately."

Gu Mingyue smiled as she accepted the gift box from Li Chunjing, opened it, glanced at it, and let out a perfectly timed soft exclamation of surprise.

"Oh my, I've been looking for this shade for so long—you're so thoughtful."

Li Chunjing stood to the side, wearing a standard professional smile, but inwardly she was secretly astonished.

She had seen Gu Yunjin's calm and decisive demeanor at the board meeting and her sharp and capable presence on the racetrack, but she rarely saw her in this gentle and obedient younger sister mode. Every time she did, she was amazed by the smoothness of this switch.

She silently gave her boss a perfect score for his acting skills.

"Sister, actually, the main reason I came here today is to apologize to you."

Gu Yunjin lowered her head slightly, placed her hands on her knees, and spoke with a touch of just the right amount of guilt.

Regarding the "Walking with Brilliance" project, I genuinely didn't know that Chen Cui used to be your assistant.

If I had known, I would have discussed it with you first.

The recent online discussions, comparing you to Chen Cui and saying some really nasty things—it makes me angry just reading them.

Those netizens are so mean, trying to sow discord between us sisters. Sister, you won't be mad at me, will you?

"Sister, it's understandable that you're upset with me. But you have to believe me, I never meant to make you unhappy."

Looking at the sincere and gentle face in front of her, Gu Mingyue felt a wave of nausea rising in her stomach.

She knew Gu Yunjin was acting, and that every word she uttered was a lie.

How could she not know that Chen Cui used to be her assistant? She was clearly doing it on purpose.

But she couldn't expose him, because doing so would make her seem mean-spirited.

"How could that be?" Gu Mingyue put down her teacup, reached out and patted Gu Yunjin's hand, her smile as perfect as a magazine cover.

"You were kept in the dark too, so I don't blame you."

A grateful smile immediately bloomed on Gu Yunjin's face.

"That's good,"

She picked up a lychee from the fruit plate and started peeling it.

"By the way, sis, I heard that WanYu Entertainment wants to invite you to be on a variety show?"

A barely perceptible tension flashed across Gu Mingyue's expression: "How did you know? It is true, but I've already refused. That kind of program isn't good enough for me."

"Sister, you did the right thing," Gu Yunjin said, placing the peeled lychees on a plate, her tone sincere as if she were truly thinking of her sister's best interests.

"Don't go. Those people who make variety shows will do anything for views—they will deliberately create conflict, edit and piece together the content, and then cut what you say into the way they want it to be."

Sister, you're so kind. If they cut this out, who knows how netizens will interpret it after it airs.

That will just create another wave of trending topics, and a bunch of people will jump on the bandwagon. You don't need to give them any opportunities to generate buzz.

Gu Mingyue listened, maintaining a smile on her face.

"Furthermore, if my sister really wants to experience variety shows,"

Gu Yunjin spoke in a light and enthusiastic tone, as if she had come up with a perfect idea.

"You can come to 'Walking with Brilliance'! It's our own program, I'm in charge."

"You can film however you want, say whatever you want, there will absolutely be no malicious editing, and—" she said with a smile,

"Our ratings are even higher than theirs."

Gu Mingyue's smile froze on her face; this was the real reason she had come today.

Gu Yunjin didn't come to apologize; she came to demonstrate.

She didn't want her to appear on "Shining Life," but instead wanted her to appear on "Walking with Brilliance"—standing on the same screen as Chen Cui? To let everyone see her forcing a smile in front of her former handbag carrier?

This wasn't an invitation; it was forcing her head to rub against the ground.

"We'll see,"

"I've made an appointment with the beautician, it's almost time. Little sister, I appreciate your kind offer, I'll treat you to dinner another day."

"Then I'll wait for my sister's news." Gu Yunjin also stood up, smiled obediently, and then led Li Chunjing out the door.

The smile on Gu Mingyue's face vanished the moment the door closed.

She glanced down at the tulips on the coffee table; their petals were pure white and so exquisite they looked almost unreal.

If Gu Yunjin says not to go, then she absolutely has to go.

She's definitely going to be on this variety show.

She will show everyone who the real protagonist is.